Veterans Health Benefits Info - Personalized

Veterans Health Benefits Info - Personalized

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Posts: 1120

Feb 11 12 10:37 PM

VA is producing personalized Veteran Health Benefits Handbooks for Veterans who are enrolled in VA health care. The new handbooks are tailored specific for each Veteran and provides detailed information about the VA health services the Veteran may be eligible to receive.

I see that you post a lot. Would have hoped that you would have read the info on the link, before you responded.

"VA will develop an online version of the handbook for Veterans to access via MyHealtheVet. This will allow Veterans to access their up-to-date health benefit information anywhere, anytime."

Although I am fairly new to the forum, I have gained a great appreciation for those who have helped others in resolving our problems with a HUGE, GOVERNMENT organization. I personally think that the VA is now making incredible progress, given their aforementioned handicaps.

I am also an active user of e-benefits and MyHealtheVet, as are many of our brothers and sisters. I agree that most of us would have benefited from the electronic version as the only means of communicating this information.

They could have used the money saved to fund the enormous cost the VA will face when our troops return from overseas and/or housing for homeless vets, etc.

I wish that the VA would have offered us the option of a paper document (for vets not inclined to use the computer) or the electronic version for those of us who would prefer that option.

Do you know if the VA has an advisory committee, made up of vets, who would review and comment on proposed changes?

If they used a forum like this one, they could certainly get the earfull they so desprately need.

witchdoctor wrote:Sounds like an exercise in old school tech manual type obsolescence.

First of all, not all vets have computers, or have any idea of how to get on-line. So, how would YOU get the information to them?

Second, E-Benefits is down about half the time, so how could anyone actually depend on it for much of anything? Look at all of the complaints filed on these forums about that "service". I have been signed up for "MyHealth" for over 10 years now, and I can't access even that most of the time.

It is very handy to have a book, or booklet around, so you can easily look something up without having to go online.

YOU may think that books are "old school" but I personally refuse to read any book on an electronic device. I much prefer the feel of an actual book. And, since I have well over 1,500 of them in my home, there is no way that they are all available on a Kindle, I-PAD or other electronic device.

I also read the two page FAQs. Most dealt with screw ups in the manual.

The Old Medic said: Second, E-Benefits is down about half the time, so how could anyone actually depend on it for much of anything? Look at all of the complaints filed on these forums about that "service". I have been signed up for "MyHealth" for over 10 years now, and I can't access even that most of the time.

I disagree that E-benefits is down about half the time. It is down a lot, but surely not half the time.

Sending thousands and thousands of manuals to veterans is another example of waste in government.

Understand that not all vets have computers. Why not let those that do not have computers get a manual and the rest of us can use an online version if we wish -- or not. Think of the savings that would provide.

My Healthevet has some good resources as does ebenefits. Most of it is just eye wash. Is it worth it for the few good things. Yes, probably it is. We can sort out the good from the bad.

The best resource so far is secure messaging on MY Healthevet. It works well and I get responses from my PCP the same day. I only use it for important stuff.

I just received my personalized Veterans Health Benefits Handbook in the mail. It is a 64 page book and I read through the first half. The letter transmitting it states that it is tailored to my status with the VA health system. I will check it against the sample electronic version but wonder how the many versions are individualized. It does have the correct phone number for my VAMC in the section on contacts.

The material is easy to read and understand. It may answer some of the questions that are ask on here for specific individuals. So at least take a close look at the handbook when it comes and do not as I almost did and toss it. I think I will hold on to mine or possibly the sample book if it is very similar.

The transmittal letter does state that "Your handbook contains personal identifying information and should be safeguarded as you would any other sensitive personal document." I don't see anything that meets that level of caution unless you personally add it.

I am a P1 and no sign of it but what the hell I would rather use the puter anyway. Actually, when I started this whole compensation process 2 years ago. Ebenfits and MyhealthyVet were a waste of time. In those 2 years they both have come along way and actually pretty good. Withthe plans the VA has for them, in 2 more years they are going to be fantastic.

Reminds me I need to look at healthy vet and see if my blood work from Monday is up yet